Biography

Canadian Screen Awards (Gemini) winner Lou Pomanti is one of Canada’s most accomplished producers, composers, musicians and musical directors. Lou’s original music and performances are featured on soundtracks and recordings from some of Canada’s biggest stars, and he has contributed playing, arrangements and productions to several Grammy winning albums.

Lou studied music at Humber College in Toronto in the Jazz Program. He was the recipient of The Duke Ellington Scholarship Award for Arranging.

In 1980 Lou received a call from David Clayton-Thomas to join the seminal jazz rock group Blood, Sweat and Tears and toured the world. It began a decades-long association including the role as producer on DCT’s “Soul Ballads” album for Universal Records.

1983 saw the beginning of Lou’s session career as the first call pianist/synthesist in Toronto. His playing and arranging has enhanced the recordings of Michael Bublé, Gordon Lightfoot and Anne Murray; as well as rockers Kim Mitchell and Triumph. His record credits are a “Who’s Who” of the Canadian recording industry.

The mid 90s saw his emergence as a prominent TV and Film composer, which continues to this day, scoring for networks such as CBC, CTV, Global, HBO, and Showtime.

In the 1990s, Lou emerged as one of the country’s top Musical Directors. Lou was the MD for the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (6 times), The Gemini Awards (7 times), the Genie Awards (5 times) and the Junos. Lou has written and directed music for James Taylor, Herbie Hancock, Leonard Cohen and Michael Bublé.

Lou received a Gemini award for arranging and conducting “Both Sides Now” for Joni Mitchell’s induction to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. Lou was Musical Director of the CBC TV show “Hockey Night in Canada Anthem Challenge” with producer Bob Rock. He also conducted the orchestra for the CBC’s “How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria” on live national TV.

Lou arranged the orchestra for Michael Buble’s smash hit “Haven’t Met You Yet”, which has sold over 7 million copies worldwide. He has 8 arrangements in total on Michael Buble records. Lou composed the music for the 2011 Pan Am Games Handover Ceremony in Guadalajara, an 8-minute suite for multimedia. Lou also leads his 10-piece horn band Oakland Stroke in Toronto.

The last few years have seen Lou’s return to his first love, making records. He has contributed to and/or produced recent albums by Marc Jordan, The Tenors, Matt Dusk, David Clayton-Thomas, June Garber, John Finley, Barbra Lica and many more. Decades into a long and successful career, he is excited to be releasing an album as leader, featuring many of his famous vocalist friends and his most treasured studio musicians.

In 2012, the City of Toronto named a street after Lou Pomanti to honour his accomplishments.

“Lou Pomanti & Friends” will be released in May 2022 on Vesuvius Music Inc.